Jiu Jitsu and Karate are two completely different disciplines of martial arts. Jiu Jitsu is a grappling martial art, while Karate focuses on striking. However, both styles serve the same purpose, which is to teach people how to successfully defend themselves against threats. If you are interested in martial arts, and specifically in Jiu Jitsu or Karate, your biggest question would be: Jiu Jitsu vs. karate, which is better?
The answer to this question is Jiu Jitsu. BJJ is one of the safest martial arts to practice. BJJ is also more effective in real-life situations as most of the combat situations end up in a grappling matchup. But that’s not all. In this article, I will explain why Jiu Jitsu has the upper hand over Karate.
Where did each originate?
The origins of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu stem from Japan around the beginning of the twentieth century. The art existed in Japan centuries before it transformed into a modern version of itself in BJJ. India is often cited as the original source of Jiu Jitsu but there isn’t enough evidence to back the claim. BJJ was developed by the Gracies in the early twentieth century, but they learned the art from Japanese practitioner Maeda.
Maeda went to Brazil in 1917 with the purpose of establishing a Japanese colony. There he met a man named Gastao Gracie, who was an influential figure in the political circles. Maeda taught Gastao’s two sons Jiu Jitsu, and the boys became proficient in the art in no time. The Gracies then competed against different styles, putting emphasis on techniques that worked better, and eventually developed BJJ over the next few decades. Today BJJ is one of the most popular martial arts in the world.
Karate is the most popular martial art in the world, according to one study. That is not a surprise because this particular style has been a part of popular culture for a very long time. The sport dates back to 520 A.D. when Indian patriarch Bodhidharma traveled to neighboring China. While sitting in silent meditation on Song Mountain for 9 years, Bodhidharma developed a series of physical movements to protect himself from wild animals. The techniques gradually spread across Japan and the rest of East Asia, where they evolved for centuries to come, giving birth to a new form of martial art known as Karate today.
The basics tenets of Jiu Jitsu
Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that revolves around ground fighting and focuses on the principles of angles, leverage, pressure, and timing. It is also known as the ‘gentle art’ because it uses non-violent ways of dealing with threats. The most important component in mastering Jiu Jitsu is the fundamentals. The first fundamental is Sparring. While perfecting the art takes years, if not decades, the practice certainly helps you improve your ranks. In sparring, you and your training partner engage in live training and exhibit the techniques to the best of your ability.
The second fundamental is the Key Positional Strategy. One of the keys to success in BJJ is maintaining a good position at all times. While submission moves are the most fascinating part of this martial art, maintaining a dominant or safe position is quintessential to one’s success.
The third fundamental is Patience because, without it, you’ll find it hard to practice BJJ or any other martial art. It takes years to earn a BJJ black belt, so if you are looking to ace the discipline in a short span of time, you’ll miss out on a lot. Be patient, listen to the instructions carefully, and expect to succeed.
The basic tenets of Karate
Karate is an umbrella term used to describe a number of different styles, but the four main styles are Goju-Ryu, Shotokan-Ryu, Wado-Ryu, and Shito-Ryu. Each style has its own techniques but follows the core tenets of Karate.
In Karate, it is very important to focus on three things. Kihon (basic techniques), which is a fundamental training method introduced to better understand defense and attack. At first, the techniques are practiced one at a time, before adding combinations. The types and intensity of the training methods depend on the age and experience of the practitioners.
Kata (training exercises with predetermined moves) is the practice and exhibition of sequential combinations. These combinations take years to perfect and master, as the habit of thinking and acting simultaneously takes time to develop. The key is to have the perfect technique, control, speed, timing, and balance.
Kumite (Sparring) is two combatants training together for war in practice. Like Jiu Jitsu, sparring is a fundamental tenet of learning Karate. Kumite training methods initially involve a pre-arranged set of sequences which the practitioners work on. Then they are allowed to use any combinations they like as long as they are controlled.
Similarities between Jiu Jitsu vs. Karate
Going through the similarities and differences between the two martial arts is very important. It will make you understand Jiu Jitsu vs. karate: which is better for you.
- The Belts
BJJ and Karate are similar in the way that practitioners go through degrees after earning their black belt. While a black belt might seem like the end of the journey in BJJ and Karate, it is the beginning of a new one however. The highest degree a practitioner in both disciplines can achieve is the 10th degree, but that is only reserved for the pioneers of the sport.
- The Clothing
Both Karate and BJJ practitioners wear robe-style clothing called ‘gi’ during training and combat. There is also a no-gi uniform for BJJ practitioners, which consists of a rash guard and board shorts. The Karate gi is called ‘Karategi’, which is a thin and breathable cloth jacket with forearm-length sleeves and pants made from the same material.
Differences between Jiu Jitsu vs. Karate
- Grappling vs Striking
BJJ is a grappling martial art. It teaches one how to control one’s opponent on the feet, before taking them down and beating them there. In that sense, Karate is the polar opposite. The martial art focuses on fighting on the feet and includes punches, kicks, and various other strikes.
- Power vs Technique
While Karatekas use power and hard strikes to knock out or outpoint their opponents, BJJ uses technique and strategy to control adversaries on the ground. Doing so might take a lot of strength as well, but it provides greater control in real-life situations. In a striking contest, collateral damage is inevitable, regardless of how elite a competitor’s defensive skills are. In Jiu Jitsu, however, the damage could easily be avoided with technical superiority.
- Self-defense preparation
If you want to learn self-defense, you might want to think twice before joining a Karate school. That is because most Karate schools don’t prepare students for real-life situations. Yes, the Karate moves are cool and flashy, but are they of any use if they don’t serve the purpose? BJJ academies better prepare their students for real-life scenarios because the use full contact methods of training, instead of point sparring. Also unlike most Karate schools, BJJ academies have stayed true to their philosophy, and provide a wholesome experience.
Jiu Jitsu vs. Karate: Famous fights
- Royce Gracie vs Gerard Gordeau
Royce Gracie represented Brazilian Jiu Jitsu during the founding years of the UFC. He competed in the promotion’s first four tournaments and won three of them. He would have potentially won all four tournaments had he not withdrawn from UFC 3. The most notable Jiu Jitsu vs karate fight in the UFC came in the finals of UFC 1, when Gracie faced 9th-degree Karate black belt Gerard Gordeau. Gordeau had no answers to Gracie’s grappling and lost via a rear-naked choke in only two minutes.
- Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza vs Robert Whittaker
Ronaldo Souza is arguably one of the best BJJ practitioners in MMA. However, when he came up against a Karate fighter with experience in BJJ, he fell short. In their fight at UFC on Fox 24, Robert Whittaker dictated the pace of the fight from start to finish. He was able to use his Jiu Jitsu experience to keep the fight standing because he was well aware of Jacare’s threat on the mat. On the feet, it was a different ball game altogether. Whittaker used his superior striking to TKO ‘Jacare’ in the second round.
- Sage Northcutt vs Mickey Gall
Sage Northcutt started Karate at the age of four and was tipped to be a UFC welterweight champion at one point. However, his UFC career was cut short because of two BJJ practitioners. Northcutt suffered his first professional loss at the hands of Bryan Barberena, who defeated him via arm-triangle choke. He suffered his second loss at the hands of Mickey Gall, a BJJ black belt. Gall dominated the Karateka for the majority of the first round before locking him up in a rear-naked choke. Northcutt’s next fight is against BJJ ace Shinya Aoki.
Jiu Jitsu vs. Karate, which is better for getting in shape?
It doesn’t matter what martial art you practice, over a span of time, you will see the improvements in your overall health. But the main question here is, Jiu Jitsu vs. karate, which is better for getting in shape? It depends on what kind of physique and physical attributes you are looking for.
Jiu Jitsu is a fantastic way to lose weight. There is a common misconception that one only starts losing weight at a certain level in Jiu Jitsu. However, Jiu Jitsu is for everyone, and because it requires a lot of effort, it burns a lot of calories too. BJJ also lowers cholesterol levels, boosts endorphin production, regulates insulin and blood sugar levels, and improves the respiratory system. It also helps practitioners use the different parts of their body as a cohesive unit, thus improving coordination.
Karate has its benefits too. The biggest plus point of Karate is that it’s a total body workout. Karate exercises are great for your cardiovascular health, as they get your blood pumping. The techniques also work on all major muscles of your body, which improves muscle toning, and increase muscle mass. Karate also helps in improving coordination and reflexes.
Each martial art has its own benefits when it comes to getting in shape. Therefore, it’s better to know what one needs when signing up to a training facility.
Who would win in a street fight, Jiu Jitsu or Karate?
Jiu Jitsu will always have the upper hand in a street fight if a pure BJJ practitioner fights a pure Karateka. Think about it this way, you’ve got yourself into a fight with someone, and you are not a martial artist by any means, your first instinct would be to throw punches and kicks. That is because striking is a human being’s natural instinct during fight or flight situations.
However, if the fight goes to the mat, the laymen’s natural instinct would be to try and get back to their feet, instead of fighting back because it requires a lot of learning, technical soundness, and practice to grapple. Therefore, the Jiu Jitsu guy would have the upper hand over the Karate fighter, because the latter would use his natural instinct and his knowledge of clinch on the feet, and try and take the fight to the ground, where the Karate fighter, despite being an exceptional martial artist in his/her own right, would have a hard time.
Conclusion
Both Jiu Jitsu and Karate are a lot of FUN. They help you get in better shape, and help boost confidence and self-esteem. However, when it comes to self-defense, my pick is Jiu Jitsu. It will surely give you a better chance of neutralizing threats, without causing much damage on either side. I have given my verdict. Now, it’s for you to decide, Jiu Jitsu vs. karate, which is better for you?